       
Best Adventure Game
Winner: The Curse of Monkey Island
But lest you think The Curse of Monkey Island won simply on its rich history, think again. The key to a good adventure game is integrating the puzzles with the story, and Curse features puzzles that are challenging, intuitive, and almost always really, really funny - a refreshing change from the slider-puzzle door locks, which have become standard. Rounding out the package is the beautifully stylized art, great pirate-theme score, and solid voice acting. The Curse of Monkey Island holds enormous appeal for everyone, from long-time veterans of the series to those who are setting out with Guybrush Threepwood for the first time. Runner-up: The Last Express
Set on the Orient Express just before the outbreak of World War I, The Last Express features some of the most realistic and interesting characters ever encountered in a game. The story has everything one could want from such a setting: international intrigue, betrayal, surprising and believable plot twists, and even some romance thrown in for good measure. But the most intriguing aspect of The Last Express is its structure: The game actually plays out in real time. Characters follow believable behavior patterns, and if you aren't in certain locations at certain times, you could miss out on key plot points. Or, you could just waste your time eavesdropping on the conversations of other passengers. While a few minor gameplay problems held it back from the top spot, there is no doubt that The Last Express is one of the best adventure games of the last few years. Let's hope there's a sequel on the not-too-distant horizon.
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